Air Force 1B195 (Ground Radar Systems Technician). 1,120 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$110K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Industry tech roles your 1B195 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
What 1B195 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →Cognitive skills your 1B195 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
You were responsible for understanding how all components of complex radar systems interacted, from antennas to processors, to diagnose and repair issues effectively.
You can quickly grasp the interconnectedness of complex systems, predict potential failure points, and develop strategies for preventative maintenance or rapid troubleshooting.
You adhered to strict technical orders and safety regulations when installing, maintaining, and repairing sophisticated radar systems, ensuring consistent and reliable operation.
You're highly disciplined and understand the importance of following established protocols and safety standards, ensuring quality and minimizing risks in any regulated environment.
You maintained operational effectiveness even when systems were not functioning optimally due to malfunctions or damage, using your skills to work around the problem.
You can effectively troubleshoot problems and maintain operations under pressure, finding innovative solutions and alternative approaches when resources or systems are compromised.
You were tasked with optimizing resources, including tools, support equipment, personnel, and supplies to meet the maintenance requirements of radar systems, ensuring minimal downtime and efficient operations.
You're skilled in managing and allocating resources effectively to achieve maximum output, minimizing waste and optimizing efficiency in any operational setting.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
You've been expertly trained to maintain and repair complex electromechanical systems. You're adept at troubleshooting, following procedures, and working at heights – all crucial for wind turbine maintenance. Wind turbines are essentially giant, high-tech systems, and your experience with radar systems makes you uniquely qualified to keep them running smoothly.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been responsible for complex mechanical and electronic systems. Your ability to diagnose, repair, and maintain sophisticated systems translates perfectly to amusement park rides, roller coasters, and other attractions. Plus, your understanding of safety protocols will be invaluable in ensuring the safety of park guests.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been working with complex interconnected systems, which is what building automation is all about. You're used to troubleshooting, maintaining, and optimizing these systems for peak performance. You'll be right at home keeping these 'smart' buildings operating efficiently.
Adjacent · MatchUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology or related fields
Requires knowledge of specific electronic components, troubleshooting techniques, and industry standards not explicitly covered in the military training. Further study and hands-on experience with civilian electronic systems will be needed.
While the military training covers network fundamentals, further study is needed on current networking technologies, protocols, and security practices common in civilian IT environments. Focus on TCP/IP, routing, and network security best practices.
While military training provides a solid foundation in radio communications, this license requires specific knowledge of FCC rules and regulations. Additional study and exam preparation are necessary.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/TPS-75 Radar | Long-range air surveillance radar systems used in civilian air traffic control and weather forecasting. | Signals |
| AN/GPN-27 Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) | Commercial airport surveillance radar for air traffic control. | Signals |
| AN/TPN-19 Landing Control Center | Mobile air traffic control towers used at smaller regional airports or for disaster response. | Operations |
| IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) Systems | Civilian Mode S transponders and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) systems used for aircraft identification. | Operations |
| Radar Test Sets (e.g., AN/UPM-155) | Spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and network analyzers used for testing and calibrating radar and communication equipment. | Signals |
| Ground-to-Air Radio Communication Systems (VHF/UHF) | Commercial VHF/UHF radio systems used for air traffic control and emergency communication. | Networking |
| Video Mappers and Display Systems | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and high-resolution display systems used for visualizing radar data. | Operations |
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.